Congressman Fighting to Veto ISP Data Capping
Posted 06/23/09 at 04:05:18 PM by Andy Salisbury
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Congressman Eric Massa, who represents New York’s 29th district, is taking a stand against what he sees as an abusive industry: broadband providers. Having recently written a bill, which he plans to introduce to the U.S. House of Representatives, he’s hoping to give the Federal Trade Commission the authority to veto ISP data capping plans.
“Volume-based pricing is detrimental to our economy,” stated Representative Massa at a press conference. “I became aware of this issue when Rochester doctors said it would have a catastrophic impact. They rely on broadband for their professional work, and pricing would triple their bill. Volume usage charges for broadband Internet access that are substantially above cost in a market without sufficient competition constitute an unfair and unconscionable practice, as substantially above-cost pricing has anti-competitive and anti-consumer effects on Internet use.”
He also continued, stating that if we don’t remove data capping plans on ISPs, we could stunt the growth of online video, and potentially hurt “agricultural, medical, educational, environmental, library and nonprofit purposes” as well.
Representative Massa reportedly features tough competition from his colleagues, who support the ISPs and their lobbyists. Still, he remains vigilant.
Image Credit: U.S. Congress
Unintended Consequences
Submitted by routine on Wed, 06/24/2009 - 6:51am
This is not the answer.
Anytime the fools in Washington pass a law things end up worst than they were before.
There will be unintended consequences to this. What? I don't know, higher prices probably.
Submitted by lumpoco on Tue, 06/30/2009 - 2:40pm
I say that there should no data cap and we should all have access to T3 bandwidth at little or no cost. But since that's a pipedream how about getting the RIAA and MPAA off our backs. If these entities are so concerned about piracy perhaps they would be better served if they actually produced quality material at affordable prices. They do neither so the disenfranchised seek other ways of acquiring subpar music and movies. How is it that they can get away with charging over $20 for a cd that has at most 2-3 good songs? How is it that the quality of bonus materials are disproportionately related to the stars reputation on movie DVD's? The bigger the stars, the more subpar the bonus features are.
corperate competition >
Submitted by Nuxes on Sun, 06/28/2009 - 7:29pm
corperate competition > goverment interference > corperate monopolies
It's the lesser of two evils. The ideal thing would be for the government to break up the internet provider regional monopolies so that capitalism can run its course, giving consumers better services at lower prices.
Submitted by BaggerX on Wed, 06/24/2009 - 9:30am
So what though? They raise their prices all the time anyway for no particular reason other than that they can. It's not like there's a free market for broadband, or anything resembling real competition. Government is mostly responsible for creating the mess we're in now, and the corporations involved certainly aren't trying to increase competition, so the government is really the only one with any power or incentive to try to fix things.
What I'd really rather see is cities owning the infrastructure and contracting out maintenance and upgrades and allowing anyone to provide services over the network. That way we get actual competition and potential for innovation rather than companies protecting their turf, having no incentive to upgrade, and always fighting any change, even if it would be better for their customers.
Cities owning the infrastructure?
Submitted by DJSPIN80 on Sun, 06/28/2009 - 4:44am
Seriously? I doubt that this will be of any benefit. I live in Chicago and Chicago has an agreement with Comcast that they will be the dominant player in the broadband market. Considering Chicago's <sarcasm>excellent political reparte</sarcasm>, I'm pretty sure that this won't create new competition but it will only create a lot of Quid Pro Quo deals. It's been like this in Chicago, and Chicago is a BIG city. Any city deals in Chicago almost always results in ZERO customer benefits, because in the end it costs more and the benefits are far and few between.
Also, I commend this guy for doing this. These broadband fascists need to learn that free market doesn't mean 'free to raise prices, free to destroy competition' but it means 'free to enter/exit the market' and 'freedom for market success.' I would rather see free market competition deal with these monsters the way they need to be dealt with: lose customers, lose profits and lose our business.
Submitted by D3lt4 on Wed, 06/24/2009 - 6:29am
Give this guy a medal.
Submitted by linkmaster6 on Wed, 06/24/2009 - 6:19am
This is great news, he's most likely just using this niche to get popularity to get/stay in office but if it benifits you guys thats great. I live in New Brunswick so we don't exactly have the highspeed coverage the states does but hopefully if Aliant/Bell ever decides to start putting caps on their downloads someone will follow in his foot steps here.
*Have lived in a highspeed area in a while so caps maybe in their ToS
Submitted by mikeart03a on Sat, 06/27/2009 - 1:29am
My friend, where have you been these last 4 years? Bell has capped all their internet services, save for dial-up, and upped the prices. Also, if you had the $44.95 'Unlimited' for many years like I did, check your bill. I noticed that they shifted us over to the 'Total Internet Performance' package a few months back and automatically renewed our contract for a year without my permission and that only has a 60gb cap... I'm already planning on disputing the auto-renewal and switching over Acanac for their cheaper DSL rates, no throttling and NO CAPS.
- mike_art03a
IT Technician
Gov't of Canada
Submitted by sotoa on Wed, 06/24/2009 - 5:04am
"in a market without sufficient competition"
You got that right!
Submitted by bigbasspa on Wed, 06/24/2009 - 4:59am
So plenty of his colleagues are supporting the ISP and their lobbyists? That's just great. Massa doesn't stand a chance sad to say. Lobbyists, somewhere well below lawyers and timeshare reps on the food chain.
Submitted by Biceps on Tue, 06/23/2009 - 3:38pm
This is awesome! It is high time someone called these ISPs on their monoply-style practices! Kudos to Mr. Massa. You have my vote... sorry I live on the west coast. Please don't let your corporate-contribution-driven colleagues push you from this path.
Yeah I should move to NY
Submitted by Curtai on Tue, 06/23/2009 - 3:21pm
Yeah I should move to NY just so I can put my vote in so We can keep him in office
Lets move to New York, this
Submitted by WindowsXP on Tue, 06/23/2009 - 7:08pm
Lets go everyone, the airfare is on me.
Submitted by popstop785 on Tue, 06/23/2009 - 1:53pm
Someone actually in office that actually has a brain?! Holy crap! I'm almost speechless!
I'm glad to see him stepping up like that. I have Cox and I am currently uneffected by any cap, but I'd rather see it nipped in the butt before it spreads.
Submitted by aviaggio on Tue, 06/23/2009 - 4:12pm
You should read the fine print. Cox *does* have volume caps but they currently are not enforcing them. But they are indeed there in the ToS. They could start capping tomorrow if they wanted to, no change in ToS or notification required. It's one of their dirty little secrets.
Submitted by sreesesr on Tue, 06/23/2009 - 1:29pm
I have Charter and so far so good, no caps. I am hoping it stays that way since they have no competition in my area at all. I would have no one to switch to if they decided to put a cap on internet usage. It's hard enough, why make it worse?
U.S. Army Sergeant
Submitted by Stimz on Wed, 06/24/2009 - 1:45am
They updated the ToS in February to set caps.
It should have been on your billing statment.
If they enforce them is another story...
http://www.charter.com/Visitors/Policies.aspx?Policy=6
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r21857722-HSI-Charters-New-Caps-Policy
Submitted by sreesesr on Fri, 06/26/2009 - 1:18pm
Nope, no caps here and they are not on my billing statement which I still get while I am here in Afghanistan.
U.S. Army Sergeant
*Hugs Charter* when i saw
Submitted by nekollx on Tue, 06/23/2009 - 1:33pm
*Hugs Charter* when i saw the first artilce o nthe Time Warner 250 cap i called Chater and told then i would terminat my service if they ever instituted caps and to put their in their records. They told me they had no plan now or in the future to institute caps.
------------------------------
Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
Submitted by baGoGoodies111 on Tue, 06/23/2009 - 7:31pm
Charter with no data caps is great, however I have terrible luck with thier modems. Mine always will random stop sending, but hey, at least its not a form of data capping.
Submitted by sreesesr on Fri, 06/26/2009 - 1:30pm
As for modem, Linksys modems work on Charter's network just fine, I have been using one for the last couple of years. Good thing about those is that you don't have to return them and they work on just about anybody's network, and you don't have to pay rent.
U.S. Army Sergeant
Submitted by WindowsXP on Tue, 06/23/2009 - 1:20pm
Well im quite happy someone ist taking a stand for us.
I dont understand why data capping is getting so popular now..
Please Max PC keep us updated :)
Submitted by nekollx on Tue, 06/23/2009 - 1:31pm
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
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Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
I will do my very best to
Submitted by andysalisbury on Tue, 06/23/2009 - 1:30pm
I will do my very best to keep an eye on this story!
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